×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Extrusion line crosscut saw - laser retrofit

Extrusion line crosscut saw - laser retrofit

Extrusion line crosscut saw - laser retrofit

(OP)
We extrude acrylic sheet.  I'd like to know if anyone has heard of using a laser instead of a saw for the crosscut.  We have extensive sawdust control/collection systems but still get some on the sheet, which is unacceptable for certain customers.  I had this idea - how about not generating it at all by using a laser.  Any help is appreciated.

RE: Extrusion line crosscut saw - laser retrofit

Any reason other than edge quality for not using a flying shear?

Griffy

RE: Extrusion line crosscut saw - laser retrofit

(OP)
We need a square edge cut.  It would also be a major project to move the components downstream from the crosscutting area.  Thanks anyway.

RE: Extrusion line crosscut saw - laser retrofit

That has me wondering, would the sheet have enough opacity to generate a clean cut, or would the beam not pass much of it's energy through? How about high pressure water?.

RE: Extrusion line crosscut saw - laser retrofit

Are the sheets protected at all with a backing material?  This could protect the surface of interest during your operations and subsequent transport.  I would agree with automatic2 at looking at a waterjet.  Lasers bring quite a bit of safety/compliance concerns along with them and if the material is not clean, you could get spatter and end up embedding artifacts into your surface rather than having dust on it.

Regards,

RE: Extrusion line crosscut saw - laser retrofit

(OP)
Our sheets are very clean and have a polyfilm on both sides.  I've seen beautiful laser cut edges on clear acrylic.  Waterjet tech. has come a long way but acrylic is hydrophilic and I'd also be concerned about water wicking under the polyfilm.  Thanks.  

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources